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ABC's Linsey Davis breaks silence amid backlash for fact-checking Trump, being 'biased' towards Harris during debate

ABC's Linsey Davis acknowledged that the fact-checking of Trump was impacted by earlier CNN debate, which ended badly for President Joe Biden,

Published on: Sep 14, 2024, 22:42:28 IST
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ABC moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir have been brutally blasted by critics for being biased towards Donald Trump's Democrat rival Kamala Harris. During the most-awaited first presidential debate the GOP and Democratic candidate, moderators fact-checked Trump five times and did not correct Harris a single time.

ABC moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir have been brutally blasted by critics for being biased towards Donald Trump's Democrat rival Kamala Harris. (AP)
ABC moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir have been brutally blasted by critics for being biased towards Donald Trump's Democrat rival Kamala Harris. (AP)

Later, Trump too thrashed the ABC moderators for alleged bias. “It was three to one. It was a rigged deal, as I assumed it would be,” the former President told “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday.

Linsey Davis reveals why it was important to fact-check Trump

In a post-debate interview, Davis acknowledged that the fact-checking of Trump was impacted by earlier CNN debate, which ended badly for President Joe Biden, leading to his withdrawal from the 2024 White House race.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times over breakfast at the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia, Davis said she only intended to address worries that Trump's remarks may “hang” there unchecked by Harris or the moderators just like his June debate against Biden.

“People were concerned that statements were allowed to just hang and not [be] disputed by the candidate Biden, at the time, or the moderators,” she stated.

In one the viral debate moments, Davis adamantly informed Trump that “there is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it's born”. She corrected the former President after he brought up former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's comments from 2019 that implied a newborn baby could be killed shortly after delivery following a “discussion” between the mother and the doctor.

Also Read: 'Check your man': Melania Trump warned against hubby Donald's growing closeness with Laura Loomer amid campaign trail

Davis shuts off her social media accounts

Davis stated that her team planned to fact-check both candidates during the debate, but there were none for Harris.

The site reported that Davis closed her social media accounts and simply neglected the accusations that she was aiding Harris.

“There is a stereotype that I am acutely aware of that I can’t be unbiased covering this moment. And the anonymous Instagram people serve as reminders every day,” she stated.

  • Shweta Kukreti
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shweta Kukreti

    Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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